A DANCE instructor who lost family members to cancer has raised thousands of pounds for Christie Hospital in Manchester.

Dianne Coleman ran her fourth annual sponsored 'dancercise' at Middlewich Civic Hall last Sunday, raising more than £4,000 for the specialist cancer hospital.

About 80 people attended the instructor's latest two-hour event and she says the support means a lot to her. She said: 'It seems that nowadays cancer is a disease where everyone knows someone who has had it.

'I lost my father and brother to cancer quite close together. My dad Eddie died aged 73 in July 2003 and Stephen died in July 2004 - he was 50.

'Christie Hospital is such a worthwhile cause; the staff were excellent with my father and very good to work with on the dancercise.

'They were so helpful and apprec iative. They did my sponsorship forms for me and Christie's Rachel Carter brought down banners and balloons for the event.

'I would like to thank everyone who took part, especially my long time helpers, Yvonne Joyce and Lesley Nulty, and to all those people who took

part and to everyone who sponsored those participants.

'Also a big thank you to all the local businesses who donated prizes for the raffle, who are too numerous to mention individually.'

In four dancercise fundraisers, Dianne, who lives at Meadow View in Middlewich, has raised £21,000. nDianne holds dance classes at Middlewich High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information call 07729 964761.